Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2008-09: Brett Bulmer, an 11th round selection of the Kelowna Rockets at the 2007 WHL Bantam Draft, played in 3 games for the Rockets. He registered no points in those games.

2009-10: In his WHL Rookie season, Bulmer played in 65 games for the Rockets. He scored 13 goals and added 27 assists for 40 points while picking up 95 penalty minutes. In 12 playoff games for the Rockets, he scored 3 goals and added 2 assists for 5 points.

2010-11: Bulmer signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Wild in April 2011 and made his pro hockey debut; skating in eight AHL playoff games for the Houston Aeros following his second season in the WHL. Bulmer had no points and was +2 with 6 PMs in limited action with the Aeros. During the regular season, he skated in 57 of 72 games for Kelowna, missing 15 games after suffering a leg injury in February. Bulmer’s 31 assists were tied for third most on the team and he scored 18 goals. He was a team worst -12 on the BC Division’s first-place Rockets and was the second-most penalized Rocket with 109 PMs. Bulmer skated in all 10 playoff games and scored 4 goals with 2 assists and was -1 with 4 PMs as Kelowna reached the second round.

2011-12: Bulmer made his NHL debut with the Wild as a 19-year-old, skating in nine games in October before being returned to Kelowna for his final junior season. He finished the season with Minnesota’s AHL affiliate Houston following the Rockets’ season. Bulmer had 3 assists and was plus-one with 6 penalty minutes; averaging 11 minutes of ice time in his time with the Wild. He joined the Aeros in April and in six games was minus-two with 1 goal, 1 assist and 2 penalty minutes. Houston finished fourth in the West Division; falling to Oklahoma City in four games in a best-of-five first round playoff series. Bulmer scored 1 goal with 1 assist and was an even plus/minus in the playoffs. In 53 regular season games for Kelowna he scored 34 goals with 28 assists and was plus-10 with 93 penalty minutes. He led the Rockets in both points and penalty minutes in the four-game playoff series with Portland – scoring 1 goal with 4 assists and receiving 17 minutes in penalties.

2012-13: Bulmer spent his first full pro season with Minnesota’s AHL affiliate in Houston. A knee injury in the Fall, a glut of forwards due to the NHL lockout, and mediocre play limited him to 43 games with the Aeros. Bulmer scored 4 goals with 3 assists and was -18 with 41 penalty minutes. Houston was fourth in the South Division and lost to Grand Rapids in the first round of the playoffs. Bulmer played in four playoff games and was -1 with no points and 2 penalty minutes.

2013-14: Bulmer played four games with the Wild during a call-up in December and appeared in one game in January; spending most of his second pro season with Minnesota AHL affiliate Iowa. He was -2 with no points and 2 penalty minutes while averaging 10:41 minutes of ice time with Minnesota. Bulmer played 43 games for Iowa, missing most of January and February with a knee injury after returning to the AHL club from the NHL. Iowa’s leading scorer prior to his call-up, he finished the year with 11 goals and 8 assists and was -10 with 79 penalty minutes. Iowa missed the AHL playoffs; finishing fifth in the Midwest Division.

2014-15: Bulmer again battled to stay healthy in his third pro season — skating in 53 regular season games for Minnesota AHL affiliate Iowa. He scored 4 goals with 12 assists and was -10 with 50 penalty minutes. The Wild finished last in the West Division, missing the AHL playoffs. Bulmer was re-signed by Minnesota to a one-year contract as a restricted free agent in August 2015.

2015-16: Bulmer appeared in three November games with the Minnesota Wild, spending most of the season in the AHL with Iowa. He was -1 with no points and 7 penalty minutes, averaging 6:43 minutes of ice time with Minnesota. Bulmer played 58 games with the Iowa Wild and scored 3 goals with 8 assists, finishing -12 with 73 penalty minutes. The Wild missed the AHL playoffs for the third straight season, finishing last in the Central Division.

Talent Analysis

Bulmer is a big body who can hit and defend effectively, More oriented to the defensive side of the game, he has added some power moves to his repertoire. Bulmer had several injuries which impacted his ability to contribute.

Future

Bulmer appeared in three NHL games with Wild in 2015-16, spending most of the year in the AHL with Iowa. The 39th player taken in the 2010 NHL Draft, the former second-round pick was projected as a power forward who would score fairly regularly. His role at the pro level has been that of a lower line energy forward and enforcer when necessary. Bulmer would become an unrestricted free agent if not tendered a qualifying offer by the Wild and that seems likely. His NHL potential appears limited.

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